Film financier G.N. Anbu Chezhian, 50, has approached the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case booked against him by the Valasaravakkam police here following the suicide of producer B. Ashok Kumar on November 20.
The case was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim’s cousin Sasikumar, a popular actor, director as well as producer.
New film
In an affidavit filed in support of his advance bail petition, the financier said that the complainant had accused him of having exerted undue pressure on Ashok Kumar to settle the loan obtained for their earlier movie Tharai Thappattai , which flopped miserably last year, before releasing their new movie Kodiveeran that is likely to hit the screens on November 30.
Denying the allegations, the petitioner said: “The de facto complainant Sasikumar has admittedly taken a loan from me and it is the practice in the cinema industry that the loan has to be repaid before the release of the film for which the finance has been obtained... Only to evade payment of legitimate dues I am sought to be made as an accused for the death of Ashok Kumar.”
He denied the charge of levying exorbitant interest on the loan as well as the allegation that he was obstructing the release of Kodiveeran . “I am not guilty of any offence as alleged in the FIR. I have got no connection with the deceased Ashok Kumar... The liability to me is only by Sasikumar,” he added. “The suicide note itself is suspicious and does not appear to be natural,” the petitioner said.
